Maytag MVW7232HW Top-Load Washing Machine Review

This top-load washer is perfect for big families

Laundry is an unending task, but it can be easier if you have the right washer. The Maytag MVW7232HW(available at Home Depot for $899.10) top-load washer provides a massive 5.3-cubic-foot drum and a number of crowd-pleasing features, like the ability to add extra water when you want it, and one of the most powerful Heavy Duty cycles we’ve ever tested. This killer combination makes it perfect for families, and worthy of a place on our list of the best top-load washers.

Pros

Massive drum

Deep fill option

Good cleaning

Cons

Slow cycles

A bit noisy

The MVW7232HW, which comes in white and metallic slate finishes, is a top-loader that uses an impeller instead of a vertical pole agitator found in many similar washers. The flatter impeller gives you more room for laundry and treats clothes more gently as it cleans. While we like this Maytag, there are a few things that gave us pause. Cycle times tend to drag on a bit, and features like WiFi connectivity drive the price up to a point that’s more expensive than comparable models. All gripes aside, if your old pole-agitator washer is giving you heartache, you should check out this sleek, new machine.

What we like

Heavy Duty and Normal cycles have powerful cleaning performance

The impeller and bubbled steel drum allows for a gentle but thorough clean.

As a brand, Maytag has a reputation for great cleaning, particularly on the Heavy Duty or PowerWash cycles. The MVW7232HW is no exception.

In our testing, we task machines to clean a stain strip that has been mechanically dyed with common household substances like red wine and chocolate. The Heavy Duty cycle removed 79.8% of stains across the board. The Normal cycle removed about 68%. If we judged this washer on these two cycles alone, it’d rank in the top 10 of washers we’ve ever tested.

You have the option to add more water when you want

Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The MVW7232HW offers plenty of options, like Deep Fill.

We should always look to conserve water, but sometimes you need a little more to get your clothes clean. For situations like mud-caked jeans, we’d recommend the Deep Fill option. We used it to augment the Normal cycle and it went from using 12.7 gallons of water to 18.9 gallons. That’s about 50% increase and more than enough to wash away most heavy debris. The Deep Fill option comes with four possible water levels: Auto, Medium, High, and Max Fill.

There’s a faucet in the drum

Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Maytag MVW7232HW has a faucet built right into the drum.

The MVW7232HW has a faucet located in the drum. Push the button and cold water comes out of the spout. This can be especially useful for spot treating a stain or rising your fingers after handling detergent. If you ever wanted a utility sink, but didn’t have space for it, this is the perfect solution.

What we don’t like

Cycle times are slow

We like fast washers. We like getting the chore out of the way so we can go about our day. The MVW7232HW clocks in at 41 minutes for the Normal cycle, an hour-and-a-half for the Heavy Duty, and 28 minutes for Quick Wash. Compared to the average top-loader, this Maytag isn’t the slowest—and the Normal and Quick Wash cycles are on the money for most washers.

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that some washers have done a lot better about picking up the pace. The LG WT7100CW does a Normal load in 30 minutes, and the Electrolux 627 with an aptly named Fast Wash that takes a mere 15 minutes.

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It’s not as affordable as comparable models

At the time of reviewing the Maytag MVW7232HW, the going retail price was over $800. That’s pretty pricey considering that Whirlpool and Samsung make models with built-in faucets and similar capacities for much less.

WiFi connectivity allows you to start and stop remotely via the Maytag app, as well as receive notifications, get remote assistance, and download extra cycles. That feature and a better Heavy Duty cycle are what set the MVW7232HW apart, but it will cost you.

What users are saying

The Maytag MVW7232HW ranks very highly at The Home Depot and Lowe’s. Between the two retailers, it has over 200 5-star reviews. Users like its size and how well it cleans. However, common complaints include noise level and long wait times.

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Warranty

The Maytag MVW7232HW is covered by a one-year warranty. The drum and motor have a 10-year warranty.

Should you buy the Maytag MVW7232HW?

With a 5.3-cubic-foot drum, the MVW7232HW has more than enough room to deal with a whole family’s laundry. The powerful Heavy Duty cycle and the built-in faucet is perfect for everything from work uniforms to soccer jerseys. Using the Extra Power option, you can increase the stain removal power in a given cycle. The price is the tipping point. If you see this washer for sale, you should snag it as an upgrade or replacement model. If you’re looking for a comparable model at a lower price point, check out our list of the best top-load washers.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

Checking our work.

We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process.